Experimental evidence of host race formation inMitourabutterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Abstract

A population of herbivorous insects that shifts to a novel host can experience selection pressures that result in adaptation to the new resource. Host race formation, considered an early stage of the speciation process, may result. The current study investigates host shifts and variation in traits potentially involved in the evolution of reproductive isolation among populations of the juniper hairstreak butterfly,Mitoura gryneus. Mitouraare closely associated with their host trees (Cupressaceae) and exhibit host plant fidelity: in addition to larval development and oviposition, host trees support male leks and mating. Female oviposition preference for the natal host, and differential fitness of larvae when reared on natal versus alternate hosts, are indications that specialization and local adaptation to the natal host plant are occurring. Populations with single host plant associations (Juniperus ashei,J. pinchotiiandJ. virginiana) as well as populations with multiple hosts (bothJ. asheiandJ. pinchotii) were examined. Concordance between female preference and larval performance was found forJ. ashei‐associated populations. Population‐level variation in the patterns of female preference and larval performance, both within and among host associations, may reflect differences in the timing and direction of colonization of hosts. For a single nominal species that otherwise exhibits no morphological or phenological differences, the experimental assessment of specialization and host fidelity inM. gryneusprovides strong support for the hypothesis of ongoing host race formation in these butterflies.